History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 113

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791

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he corresponded for the Mattoon (ll.) Daily "Journal," and in the spring of 1881 became local editor of the Ouray "Times." Soon afterward he purchased an interest in the paper, and assumed the editorial chair. For some months he was police magistrate of Onray, July 6. 1881, he married Miss Mary Ballinger. In the fall of that year he was elected county assessor on the republican tieket. In the spring of 1882, he left the "Times" and moved to Telluride, where he leased the Columbia house and was engaged in hotel keeping until the winter of 1883, when he accepted the editorship of the San Miguel "Journal." In the organization of San Miguel county he was appointed assessor, and served one term as a member of the Telluride city council. lle also served two terms as coroner. In the fall of 1884 he was nominated for clerk and recorder, but was defeated by three votes after one of the liveliest campaigns in the history of the county. Since then he has served four terms as chairman of the repub- lican central committee. In polities, as in every responsible position he has assumed. . Mr. Woods has given his better energies to the business before him. For some years past he has been in the meat and produce trade in Telluride. In the sixteen years of his residence there he has not once left the San Juan region. Having aided in blazing the trails, he has witnessed, and to the extent of his ability forwarded, its destiny. now being definitely moulded by the help of rail- ways and the rapid introduction of other great enterprises. We are in hearty accord with his enthusiastic predictions of its future. for he regards it as the richest treasure land of the state.

WHITE. Lou N., ex-senator from the eight- eenth district, was born in Belmont county Ohio, in April, 1860. flis parents moved to Iowa when he was four years old. subsequently to Missouri, and finally to Kansas where he was reared on a farm. At the age of IS he be- gan his career as a school teacher. In 1&1 he came to Colorado and settled in Pueblo. lle was one of the corporaters of Central Pueblo, and was its first recorder and treas- urer. In INSS be removed to Ouray and there engaged in mining. For two years he was editor and owner of the Ouray "Plaindealer." Attached to the republican party. he was elected to the state senate for the term ex- piring in 1894. He was noted as an active business man and a wise legislator.

WELLS, Leonard W .. was born in Ohio. Sept. 12, 1837. raised on a farm and educated In the public schools of the day. When six- teen years of age he was apprenticed to the carriage-maker's trade at Wooster, Wayne county, in his native state. Taking an Inter- est in politics as he grew to manhood, he was an ardent supporter of John C. Fremont.

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in 1856, and a staunch republican since the three years, then in company with Mr. B. M. organization of that party. Ile drove an ox Slack leased and opened the Markham hotel which he has conducted to the present time. team across the plains in 1860, reaching the Continental Divide in June. In 1862 he en- Mr. Welsh possesses a natural genius for the listed in the 3d Colorado regiment. After being mustered out of service, his career was somewhat varied with mining, freighting and working at his trade, until 1868, when he settled down to farming and stock raising in Douglas county, Colo., and was married the same year. They have had three chil- dren; only one survives, the eldest, a son

Imisiness in which he is engaged. Uniformly courteous and polite, industrious and pains- taking. universally esteemed. apparently without an enemy in the world, a careful financier and an excellent eaterer, he has won an enviable place in public regard. His surplus gains have been invested in valuable real estate, so that, in the twenty-five years now twenty-three years of age. In 1870 Mr. of his residence in Denver, he has gathered Wells was elected county commissioner of a very comfortable fortune. He has als, Douglas county. In 1880 he was elected been an ardent and liberal promoter of state senator from the same county, and in charitable work, indeed is one of the most generous of men to the deserving poor, aid- less of religious denomination or ereed. 1884 re-elected as a float senator between Douglas and Arapahoe counties. In 1888 he ing individuals and all organizations, regard- sold his farm of 2,500 acres and traveled a year for the benefit of Mrs. Wells' health. Returning, he settled in Highlands and engaged in the real estate business. In 1892 he was elected alderman from the 3d ward, and the following year was elected county commissioner for Arapahoe county. During his residenee in Douglas county he was seere- tary of the school board for many years, and is filling the same office in Highlands.

WHEELER, M. C., was born in Rochester. N. Y .. May 2, 1850, and remained there until six years of age when the family removed to Illinois, where he remained until twenty- one years of age and then came to Colorado and in connection with George II. Graham engaged in the meat business, at the corner of Twelfth and Larimer streets, which they conducted for twelve years. when Mr. Wheeler bought his partner out, and since that time has conducted the business sur- cessfully on his own responsibility. At the expiration of two years they purchased the ground on which the present business house stands, and at once erected a substantial building and in which he is still doing busi- ness. In 1893 he received the republican nomination for county commissioner, and was elected by a handsome majority.

WHITAKER, Albert S., secretary Atlantic & Pacific Tunnel Co., was born at Waverly, Tioga county, N. Y., Ang. 22, 1844. ITis pri- mary education was received in the common schools, but he was afterward graduated from the academy of his native town. After leaving school he embarked in mercantile pursuits, continuing the same two years. In Oct., 1861, he enlisted in the 10th New York cavalry, and was ordered immediately to the front. Ile was at the second battle of Bull Run, where he was captured, paroled on the field and sent to Annapolis, Md. He returned to his regiment in May following and then participated in numerous engagements. Among these were Little Aldie, Bristoe Sta- tion, Sheperdstown. Hay Market, Ground Squirrel Church, Salem and Mary's Church, Mechanicsville. Cold Harbor, and the battles in front of Petersburg. In fact, his regiment was with the intrepid Sheridan throughout his campaigns when moving on Richmond. During the engagement at Cold Harbor he was strack on the forearm by a piece of shell and knocked from his horse, but deelined to go to the hospital, and continued in aetive service with his regiment. He was mustered out in front of Petersburg in the fall of 1864. and went to Scranton, Pa., where his people had moved from New York. He there en- gaged with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad company, and was the chief clerk of the Passenger department of the company until 1868, when he went to La Crosse in the capacity of private secretary to "Brick" Pomeroy. Ile accompanied Mr. Pomeroy to New York and became the man ager of the New York Daily "Democrat." lto moved to Chicago in 1875 and aided in starting Pomeroy's "Democrat." In 1879 he returned to La Crosse, and then came to Denver, arriving here March 17, 1880. He located in Highlands where he built a fine mocrat, he has been thrice elected mayor of that city, and also a member of the school board a number of times. During the period

WELSH, Martin, hotel keeper, was born in county Galway, Ireland, Nov. 11, 1542. The following year the family emigrated to Amer- ica, settling in Baltimore, Md. In 1863 Martin took charge of a government wagon train and accompanied it through Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia. In 1864, at Woodbury, Tenn .. he was taken prisoner by the Confederates. held seven months and then exchanged. In 1865 he was transferred to Ft. Leavenworth. Kan. Soon afterward, he was appointed locomotive dispatcher for the Kansas Pacific railroad. Nine months later he came to Den- ver, was married, and in Jan., 1870. opened the Bon Ton restaurant on 15th street. residence where he still lives. Although a This venture proved very profitable. In 1881 he removed the Bon Ton to the Brunswick hotel on 16th street, which he conducted for

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

of his residence in Colorado, he has been in this capacity for the balance of the term, the secretary of the Atlantic Pacific Rail- way Tunnel company. Mr. Whitaker has been twice married: the first time to Mary F. Frink of Scranton, Pa., who died in 1885. To them was born one son. In Ang., 1886, he married Mrs. Clara S. MeDonnaugh of Denver. Ile is a member of the G. A. R. and also of the Denver. He is thoroughly republican in poli- A. O. U. W. Ile is socially and politically one of the prominent citizens of Highlands.

WOODBURY, Frank Stillman, banker, was born in Manchester, N. Il .. Aug. 4, 1860, and is the only son of Roger W. Woodbury, one of the most substantial and best known citizens of Denver. Mr. Woodbury arrived in Denver, by wagon from Julesburg. Oct. 19, 1867. In 1873 he attended the military academy of Cheshire, Conn. Later he learned the printer's trade during his boyhood, and obtained a working card in the Denver Typo- graphical union. In June, 1877, he was grad- uated from the Denver high school, and by his merits was awarded the salutatory, this being the first class that was graduated from that institution. During the next five years, he worked on the Evening "Times," filling every position, at various times, in the mechanical, editorial, and business depart- ments. In May, 1882, he purchased a one- third interest in the "Times" plant. Subse- quently, he increased his interest to a one- half, and, later, purchased the entire busi- ness, and condueted the same until July, 1SSS, when he disposed of it at a handsome profit. He spent the ensuing two and one-half years in travel, taking in nearly the whole of the United States, the better to inform himself on the country in which he lived ere he should venture on a foreign tour. In 1891 he organized the Rocky Mountain Savings Bank, becoming president, in which capacity he is still serving, and by his careful business methods carried the bank safely through the financial panic of 1893-94. In 1884 he mar- ried Miss Mary Jessie Cooper, daughter of Kemp G. Cooper of Denver.

WRIGHT, E. P. See Vol. 1H. page 207.

WYATT, John J., was born in Bethany, Mo .. in 1860. Six months later his father died. when his mother removed to Chilicothe, Mo., where he attended school. In ISto the family moved to Georgetown, Colo., where John J. at- tended the high school. After leaving school. he studied dentistry under Dr. R. B. Weiser of that city. Subsequently, he accepted the position of manager for two large mining prop- erties in Summit county, Colo. In 1881 he came to Denver, and engaged in the real estate business with Mr. S. Dingee, laying out and platting the first subdivision to the city of Denver, known as Harmon, and after- ward the Villa Park or Barnum subdivision, and continued in this line of business until 18SG, then entered the secretary of state's office under James Rice, and was afterward appointed deputy secretary of state, serving

some three years. In 1890, he was ap- pointed general agent for this district, of the Manhattan Mutual Life Insurance company of New York, which he held until he resigned, to accept the office of commissioner of inspections of the city of ties, and served four years as secretary of the republican city central committee, and subsequently, four years as chairman of the same, with great success to the party. In 1886 he married Mrs. Bessie Mathews of Warsaw. Ind .; they have three children, two sons and one daughter.

WAGNER, Herman, was a native of Ger- many and came to America with his parents when he was nine years of age and settled in Tiffin, Ohio, and thence moved to Cleve- land in the same state, where he learned the trade of a shoemaker. He then located in Decatur, Ill., where he remained until 1859. when he came to Colorado. He pursued his occupation until the time of his death, which occurred in 1872. During his residence in Denver, he pre-empted 320 acres of land, which has since his death been platted and divided into lots, by his widow, and made a part of the city, being known as "Wagner's Addition." While in Decatur, he married Miss Anna Raymond, and to them nine chil- dren were born. Mr. Wagner was an honest. industrious workman, and did much toward advancing the interests of the city in which he has made his home.

WARD, Major Henry. See Vol. III, page 150.

WHITE, Jonathan E., was born in Ilunt- ingdon, ra., Feb. 25, 1833. When he was three years of age his parents removed to Ohio and located at Tylerville where they remained five years, then became citizens of Richland county. Here he grew to manhood and while attending the public schools, and between the ages of fourteen and twenty years, he spent his vacations in his father's blacksmith shop. In 1854, by consent of his parents he started to California. Upon reach- ing Monroeville, Ohio, however, he decided to defer his trip for a short time and went to Cedar county, lowa, where he spent the following summer. In the fall of that year, he went to Mills county, the same state, in- tending to start on his western trip from that point. but just as he was ready to go with a party of friends, the governor of Iowa issued a proclamation to the effect that, nn- less the party numbered one hundred per- sons, well armed and equipped. they should not cross the plains, as the Sioux Indians Wore on the warpath at that time. Mr. White went to Calhoun, Neb., and from that place to DeSoto in the same state, where he remained four years. In 1556 he took a con- tract to superintend the building of some farm nouses, a blacksmith shop, and the

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breaking of two hundred acres of land on the Omaha indian reservation, but before the contract could be completed, he and his men were ordered into the service of the state, by Governor Cummings, on account of trouble with the Indians. Returning to De- Soto in 1857, he engaged in the mercantile business, and continued until 1859, being, in the meantime, appointed a deputy city mar- shal, and was afterward elected to the same office. March 31. 1859, he started for Pike's Peak, arriving in May of that year. The first three or four months of his stay in Colo- rado were spent in South Clear Creek, where he worked a claim and then came to Denver and settled on a ranch. one mile south of town, which he purchased in 1865. From that time until 1889 his entire time and energies were given to the development of this ranch, which he sold, and afterward moved to Denver, where he is at present living.

WILLIAMS, Leander A., was born Oct. 4. 1834, in Moncton, Addison county, Vt. Im- mediately upon attaining his majority he began to make arrangements to come west, and, in 1857, he with a friend came to Sioux City, and, after working in a sawmill until 1859, he crossed the plains with a company of men for Pike's Peak. The company ar- rived in Denver March 20, and April 12 cut the first lumber that was sawed by a mill in the territory. Mr. Williams was engaged in this business five years, and then home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on Cherry creek, where he lived until 1864. when he sold out and followed the freighting business for some time. In 1868 he became a stock raiser on a ranch about twenty miles from Denver. In 1879 he purchased eighty acres of land lying near the city on Cherry creek, and the following year sold a portion of it at a handsome profit, and the remainder, upon when he resided at the time of his death in 1884. was bought and platted into town lots and made an addition to Denver. Mr. Wiliams was a plain, unostentations man. but firm in his convictions of duty. He married Miss Mary E. Hocker in 1872. Three children are the result of this union-Lulu MI., Percy W. and Jessie A.

WILSON, D. B., city commissioner of high- ways, was born in Lewiston, Me., in 1848. During the civil war he joined General B. F. Butler at New Orleans. After the general surrender of the Confederate armies he re- turned to his birthplace, attended school and in due time was graduated. He then went South, and for a time was engaged in con- structing the Mobile and Montgomery rail- road. In 1882 he came to Colorado and (n- gaged as architect and builder. In April, 1895. he was appointed commissioner of highways by the board of public works of the city of Denver.

WILSON, George W., contractor. was born near Lancaster, Ohio, in Dec., 1851, and was

educated in that city. He has resided in Colorado since about the year 1871. He has been a contractor and railroad grader, execut- ing contracts for different roads. Ile has also engaged in the coal trade a number of years, from 1878 to 1884, in Denver. Oct. 8. 1879, he married Mary S. Miller of Denver. They have four children, George W. Jr., Mary A., Clara, and Smith. He has been a member of the Masonic order two years.

WILSON, J. H., was born in Indiana but reared in Illinois, where he resided until 1877, when he came to Colorado. He made the trip in the interest of the Cincinnati Carriage company, his territory extending from Denver to the Pacific coast, and has since made it his home. In 1884 he entered the harness busi- ness on Larimer street, where he continued until he moved to his present location in 1891. He made a small beginning, but by carefully managing his affairs, and judicious buying. he has been very successful. llis trade now covers a large scope of country embracing Colorado and contiguous territory. The volume of his wholesale business, already large, is constantly increasing, and Mr. Wil- son is rapidly pushing his way to the top of the commercial ladder.

WOOTTEN, Richard. See Vol. Il, page 233.

WORTMANN, Herman, was born in Ger- many, March 7. 1846, and came to America in 1866. He landed in New York, but after making a brief stay in that city he came to Denver the same year. Soon afterward he joined his brother (E. Wortmann who had been living here since 1861) in a general con- fection business. lle subsequently erected the Atlantic hall on Blake street, where he did business for many years. In 1889, he sold his interest in the establishment and retired to private life. He is a stockholder in the German National bank, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also a charter mem- ber of Schiller lodge, No. 4, of which he is treasurer. He is an honorary member of the East Denver Turner society. He was mar- ried in 1873 to Marcille Codroy. They have one son-Ilerman.

WALTERS, John, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., Feb. 14. 1853, came to Colorado in 1870 and started in business alone, working, however, during the day for others and at night for himself. He commenced the sheep and pork business in 1871. He leased some ground on Cherry creek and built a slaughter house thereon, where he killed cattle, hogs and sheep, for the butchers of Denver, four or five years. He then changed his location to where the stockyards are now located and continued in the same employment until 1888. when he managed the slaughter house in the "xelusive interest of Walters, Aicher & Walters, composing the Standard Meat and Live Stock company. They now do an ex- tensive business and have about 50,000 sheep in Wyoming, Utah. New Mexico and Colo-

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

rado. Mr. Walter's life in Denver has been one of almost ceaseless activity. His hard and constant labors, however, have brought him to the front, where he is recognized as one of the substantial business men of the city.

WALTERS, Charles W., superintendent Rio Grande Express company, was born in Lancaster, Pa., July 2, 1857. Later, the family removed to Cairo, Ill., where his boy- hood days were spent, and his mind trained in the public schools, afterward supple- mented by a course at Dickinson college, Carlisle, Pa,, in the class of '78. He entered the express business Nov. 20, 1878, as seere- tary to Capt. J. M. Thatcher, general agent. in charge of all lines operated by the Adams Express company west of the Mississippi river, where he remained nearly two years. when he resigned to accept a similar posi- tion with Mr. S. A. Fuller, general superin- tendent of the Pacific Express company at St. Louis, Mo., and remained with this com- pany from Feb. 13, ISSO, to March 17, 1801, filling the positions of auditor of non-report- ing accounts; route agent on the Wabash, Missouri Pacific, Missouri, Kansas & Texas, and Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railways, auditor of the Pacific Express company, Kan- sas and Texas department; chief clerk to gen- eral superintendent, etc. Mr. Walters re- signed from the Pacific Express company, March 10, 1821, to accept the position of as. sistant to president Jno. Springer, of the Springer Lithographing company of New York, but resigned Oct. I, the same year, to

WATSON, F. P., farmer and stock grower, was born in Massachusetts, and received his edneation in the public schools of that state. He came to Colorado in ISS6, and purchased his present farm, which is situated about four miles north of Denver. It is one of the best improved tracts of land in that portion of Jefferson county. Mr. Watson is prin- cipally engaged in raising blooded stock, horses and cattle, a business which he under- stands and which is entirely congenial to his taste. lle is also, to some extent, interested In mining claims. Ile married Miss Alice Dennison in ISS7, and together they enjoy the comforts of their attractive home.

WATROUS, M. H., was born in layton, Wis., April 19, 1859. Until about sixteen years of age he worked on a farm, and then learned the carpenter's trade. In 1877 he came to Colorado and located at Fort Collins, where for a year he worked at his trade, then removed to Denver, continuing his av- ocation there for the ensuing six months. About this time he was appointed superin- tendent of the South Park railroad, and with a large force of men ereeted the snow sheds and fences of that line in the mountains.

About 1880 he went to Breckenridge and en- gaged in mining for a year or so, but, being unsuccessful, he returned to Denver and again resumed his trade. He was soon after appointed on the merchants' police by Captain Williams, remaining until called to the city police force Aug. 18, 1882, at the opening of the Exposition that year. He con- tinned on patrol duty about a year, when he was promoted to the detective department and soon became its chief. While thus en- gaged he performed some of the best de- tective work ever known in the city. He re- tired from the department July 6. ISS7, and engaged in business. July IS, 1888, he was married at Waco, Nebraska.

WEAVER, T. F., farmer, was born in Ohio, Oct. 22. 1831. He has been a pioneer, a soldier, and is at the present time engaged in agricultural pursuits, In the fall of 1858 he moved to Kansas City, Mo., where he re- mained until the following January, when he went to Texas. The next spring he became a citizen of Colorado and tried his fortune at mining until 1862, when he enlisted in the 2nd Colorado regiment. He served faithfully for the term of three years in the civil war. and after being honorably mustered out of service settled in Kansas. In 1979 he re- turned to Colorado and engaged in farming. which he has since followed.

WRIGHT, V. S., dairyman, was born in Virginia in 1839, and eleven years afterward moved to Indiana, thence to Jowa, and in 1857 he became a citizen of Kansas. In ISGI enter the service of the Denver & Rio Grande he entered the Confederate army and served Express company at Denver, Colo .. and on until the surrender at Shreveport, La. lle Jan. 15, 1894, was appointed superintendent of the company.

experienced much active service and suffered many hardships while in the army. In 1867 he came to Colorado, purchased a ranch of 175 acres a few miles below Denver on the Platte river, where he remained about seven years, then came to Denver, engaged in busi- ness for a short time and then returned to his ranch and re-established his dairy, in which he has since been engaged.

WORTH. Peter, was born in England and is the proprietor of the Cheshire dairy which he established in 1883. During that year be came to Colorado and at once began his labors as a dairyman, ranchman and stock raiser. and is building up a growing and prosperous trade. His wife and six children are all natives of England and reside in Colorado.

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 113

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company Publication date: 1889-95 Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co. Number of Pages: 791

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791